"He seems very nice," Emily said. Nice wasn't quite the word she wanted, but it would have to do. How could she tell Rina that this man she had just met had her thinking about being on a beach naked with him?

"Nice? Nice? The guy is gorgeous, sweetie," Rina exclaimed. The Lexus swerved just slightly. "Hell, I wish I were your age."

Emily laughed. "You haven't looked at another man since you met Sam," she said. "Why, you've even made him your hero when you watch the Channel."

"Now, who told you that?" Rina demanded to know.

"You did, when you first introduced me to the Channel," Emily answered her. "You said you thought of the two of you in your younger days."

"I talk too much," Rina muttered. "So what have you been using the Channel for, sweetie? Isn't it fun?" She chuckled.

"I'm just an observer," Emily said. "I imagine my books, and have the characters act it all out. It gives me a chance to see if it's realistic and not just silly."

"You don't put yourself in the heroine's role?" Rina was surprised.

"Good grief, no!" Emily exclaimed. "Why would I do that?"

"Well, I thought you might, since you don't have a boyfriend," Rina replied. "Did you ever have a boyfriend, Emily? I didn't think Katya and Emily O were that strict."

Emily thought a long moment, and then she said, "You know, Rina, I don't think I ever have had a real boyfriend. I mean, I like guys, and I was social in college, but no one ever really touched me emotionally. There was never any time, and the story of my parents' little misstep never really went away. I got the feeling the second I hit high school here that everyone was watching to see if I'd screw up like Katy and Joe. You know, some of my teachers taught them. That's why I took all those AP courses, so I could graduate early and get the hell out of Egret Pointe. But then I came back."